When changing lanes, you should never:
- Look over your shoulder to check your blind spot.
- Change lanes abruptly or spontaneously. ✓
- Check for other vehicles moving into the same lane.
Answer: B. Change lanes abruptly or spontaneously.
When changing lanes, you should never change lanes abruptly or spontaneously; lane changes need to be planned and signaled ahead of time.
Why this is the answer
The handbook lays out a step-by-step routine for every lane change: signal, check your mirrors, check the traffic behind and beside you, look over your shoulder, and confirm there is enough room in the next lane. It also warns against weaving in and out of traffic and says that last-minute lane or direction changes can raise the risk of a collision. Jumping into another lane without that preparation skips the very checks the routine exists for.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Look over your shoulder to check your blind spot. — Looking over your shoulder is not something to avoid; the handbook lists it as a required step before changing lanes so you can confirm the lane is clear.
- C. Check for other vehicles moving into the same lane. — Watching for other vehicles that may be moving into the same lane is part of checking your mirrors and blind spots, and the handbook also warns that motorcycles and bicycles can hide there, so this is exactly what you should do.
Remember it
Signal, mirror, shoulder, space, then move: a lane change is a checked sequence, not a sudden swerve.
Official handbook: California Driver Handbook (DL 600), Section 6: Navigating the Roads, p. 15